Can a Jew and a Nazi survive Hitler’s Germany?
Franz Kappel and Japhet Buchanan never expected their friendship to be tested by the Third Reich. Friends from early childhood, the boys form an inseparable, brotherly bond. They spend the better part of their days playing war games and hide and seek. Growing up in a little German village, they escape most of the struggles of war until the day Japhet is banished from school for being a Jew, and later has a rib broken when other village boys beat him up. Franz learns he is putting himself in danger for spending so much time with Japhet but continues to stand up for his Jewish friend even at the risk to himself. Then one day their lives are shattered when they see first hand that the price of being a Jew is dangerously high. Devastated, they realize things have changed. They cannot escape the war now and realize the fight is bigger then scuffles with fellow school mates. The Nazis’ hatred is much more powerful and believe killing is a just punishment for anyone with a Jewish heritage.
With the war now on their doorsteps, Franz and Japhet come up with a desperate plan to save their families and get them out of Germany alive. Leaving behind the lives they’ve always known, they move into Berlin - the lion’s den - with nothing to protect them but forged papers and each other. Convinced their friendship can keep them going, and the desire to save their families from a cruel death, the boys try and make a new life for themselves while trying to keep their true identities and Japhet’s heritage a secret. When Japhet confronts a Hitler’s Youth this nearly falls apart and both realize time is running out. Franz knows they can’t hide forever, and if Japhet is caught it means the Concentration Camps. Taking his best friend’s safety upon himself, Franz joins the Nazis in an attempt to get valuable information. At the same time, Japhet joins the Jewish Resistance, neither friend telling the other of their new occupations.
With everyone in their world telling them a Nazi and a Jew can’t be friends, it is only a matter of time before they believe all the lies themselves, until neither is certain if they are fighting against a race of people or fighting for their homeland. The greatest trial of their lives begins with lies, and it is only their friendship and a faith in God both thought they lost which will get them out.Somehow they have to survive the horrors of World War II, even when all of Germany seems to be against them.
I plan to publish Brothers-in-Arms and put it, and other books, into the hands of readers.